Freedom for 278 political prisoners

Two hundred and seventy eight political prisoners whose release the Tamil community has been agitating for several years will soon be granted their freedom following talks with the Tamil National Alliance, party frontliner M.A. Sumanthiran MP told the Sunday Observer.

The TNA will this week discuss with Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe the procedural methods and the priority categories of prisoners to be released, he said, adding that a meeting scheduled for last week was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.

Many prisoners have not been served any indictments but arrested on mere suspicion, while many others have been arrested for minor offences, he said.The TNA after compiling the details held talks with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

They are optimistic that the release of the prisoners will be finalised at the next round of talks with Minister Rajapakshe, he said.